Telescopic closer for doors

ABSTRACT

CLOSER FOR SLIDE CLOSURE AND HINGED CLOSURES. THE CLOSER IS OF THE TELESCOPIC TYPE AND, WHEN THE CLOSURE CONTROLLED THEREBY IS OPEN, THE RATE OF RESTORATION OF THE CLOSURE TO CLOSED POSITION IS CONTROLLED BY A SPRING AND AN AIR CUSHION, BOTH INTERNALLY LOCATED IN THE CLOSER. BY MANIPULATION OF EXTERNAL DEVICES PROVIDED, THE EFFECTIVE SPRING TENSION AND THE BLEED RATE OF THE AIR CUSHION IN THE CLOSER ARE READILY ADJUSTED. A VACUUM BREAKING VALVE ON ONE OF THE TELESCOPING MEMBERS AUTOMATICALLY OPENS AND PREVENTS A VACUUM FROM DEVELOPING IN THE VOLUME OF THE AIR CUSHION WHEN THE CLOSER IS EXTENDED.

March 2, 1971 J. J. GRINSTEINER TELEscomcv CLOSER Fonpoos s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1969 March 2, 1971 1. JQGRlNsTElNER TELESCOPIC CLOSER FOR DOORS I Filed Feb. 3, 1969 3 *Sheets- Sheet 2 z'lzer Li/11M] J. J. GRINSTElNl-:R 3,566,434

TELESCOPIC CLOSER FVOR DOORS March 2,1971

3 Sheetsl-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 3, 1969 @AWM NWN WNW NN afame af. @QQ fm w.

United States Patent O 3,566,434 TELESCOPIC CLOSER FOR DOORS James J. Grinsteiner, 39 W. Forest Ave.,

Roselle, Ill. 60172 Filed Feb. 3, 1969, Ser. N0. 795,797 Int. Cl. Ef 3/10 U.S. Cl. 16-66 28 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE Closer for slide closure and hinged closures. The closer is of the telescopic type and, When the closure controlled thereby is open, the rate of restoration of the closure to closed position is controlled by a spring and an air cushion, both internally located in the closer. By manipulation of external devices provided, the effective spring tension and the bleed rate of the air cushion in the closer are readily adjusted. A vacuum breaking valve on one of the telescoping members automatically opens and prevents a vacuum from developing in the volume of the air cushion when the closer is extended.

This application is a continuing case from that copending U.S. patent application of mine Ser. No. 667,470, now abandoned.

This application relates to a telescopic type closer device, particularly a closer-stop-check or closer-check device for closures, e.g., screen doors and storm and other doors. Control is afforded by a coil spring and by an air cushion, both 0f which are concealed in the device and which act in opposition to one another.

Although the device of the invention is primarily adapted for use with sliding closures, in one embodiment herein disclosed the device is a closer-check-holder device for doors hinged to medicine and kitchen cabinets and the like.

Economical and effective internal sealing of the cushion chamber has proved a problem in closure closers provided With telescoping plungers, both closers of the type used for slide doors and panels, and closers of the type used for hinged doors. The provision of a readily adjustable spring arrangement for the closer has been a problem. The same as with the adjustment means of the spring arrangement, the provision of a wear sustaining piston of plastic of suitable design for the plunger has been a problem, and the latter two problems are accentuated in the first mentioned type closer for slide doors and panels because of stringent conditions imposed by the long travel necessary.

My invention, including among other things provision of an automatic air valve carried by the plunger piston to prevent a vacuum from developing in the volume of the air cushion when the device is extended, enables the foregoing problems to be materially reduced o1' substantially eliminated, as will now he explained in detail. Various features, objects, and advantages will either be specifically pointed out or become apparent when, for a better understanding of my invention, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show certain preferred embodiments thereof and in which:

FIG. l is an isometric view, from indoors, of a slide closure and an external closer-stop-check device therefor which embodies the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the closer-stop-check device of FIG. 1,

in rear side elevation with some of the parts viewed in Patented Mar. 2, 1971 in face view, of a moditication with an internally mounted closer-check device in a slide closure;

FIG. 5 is a view in end elevation, in the direction of the arrows V-V of FIG. 4, of the internally mounted modiiication of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are longitudinal sectional views of an automatic air valve on the piston of the plunger of the foregoing devices, respectively causing compression in the air cushion thereof during the compression stroke and breaking the vacuum in the air cushion during the extension stroke;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are longitudinal sectitonal views of the inner tube subassembly of the foregoing devices, respectively as the subassembly itself is being made and as the subassembly and outer tube are being assembled one within another;

FIG. 10 is a transverse section through the coil tension spring of the foregoing devices as pretension is adjusted by external manipulation of the tubes;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a cabinet with a hinged closure and a closer-check-holder therefor which is a further modiicatiton of the invention;

FIG. l2 is an end elevation taken along the section line XII- XII of the modification shown in FIG. 1l; and

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional View of an automatic air valve in the modification of FIG. 11, shown causing compression of the air cushion thereof during the compression stroke.

More particularly as shown in FIG. l of the drawings, the device generally indicated at 10a is supported at one end by a frame connected bracket 11 and supported at a point intermediate the ends thereof by a door connected bracket 1,2. A vertically disposed, rectangular door frame is indicated at 13, in which a slide closure such as a screen door 14 is horizontally slidable so as to cause the device to move therewith by telescopically extending in various posititons including the position of the device indicated by the broken lines 10a.

When the screen door 14 occupies the position to the left as shown in solid lines in the view of FIG. 1, a fixed glass partition or panel 15 complements the door 14 in forming the closure at the inside for the entire opening of the frame 13. In the preferred arrangement, the fixed glass panel 15 occupies a midplane parallel to an inner vertical plane in the frame in which the door 14 slides and parallel to an outer vertical plane in the frame 13 in which an outer glass door, not shown, horizontally slides.

The sliding screen door 14 presents supported screening 16 and a supporting, fabricated slide frame thereabout including a longitudinally extending, upper cross rail section 17a, a vertical pair 18 of side rail sections joined one at each of the opposite upper corners of the slide frame to the upper cross trail section 17a, and a lower cross rail section which, together with conventional iixed track structure receiving same at the bottom of the frame 13, is not shown. A nylon shoe 20 carried by the leading end of the upper frame section '17a confronts the innermost depending gutter flange of the frame 13 to prevent door 14 from jumping the track of the just said fixed track structure. In the corners of the screen door 14 such as the upper corners illustrated in FIG. 1, generally L-shaped corner locks, not shown, are provided as internal reinforcements in the joints between the side rail and cross rail sections, the latter preferably being aluminum tubing of a hollow rectangular construction formed in a continuous roll-forming operation.

CLOSER-STOP-CHECK DEVICE-FIGS. 2, 3

Functioning as a closer-stop-check for the door, the device 10a comprises an outer main cylinder tube 22, and an inner plunger tube 24 slidingly received therein as shown in FIG. 2 and defining therewith an annular space 26 included between the tubes.

In FIG. 3, the door connected bracket 12 includes a split band 28 in which the cylinder tube 22 of the device a is adjustably positioned longitudinally. The band has a pair of flanged ends 30 which confront one another and which mutually receive a releasable, tension adjusting fastener 32 which affords a clamping adjustment to change tension in the band. A pair 34 of horizontally spaced apart screws secures to the horizontal upper section 17a of the door a generally L-shaped bracket plate 36, which bracket plate supports the fastener 32 and the band 28 in cantilever fashion.

At the outer edge and at the inner edge, each of the upper and lower frame sections carries, respectively, a series of track rollers and a screen anchoring flange, typically as illustrated at the outer edge at 38 and at the inner edge at 40 on the upper frame section 17a.

In FIG. 2, the frame connected bracket 11 comprises a U-shaped member `44 secured to the adjacent vertical member of the door frame by a pair 42 of screws. A pin 46 through the spaced apart legs `48 of the member 44 pivotally connects the device 10a. thereto at a plugged outer end of the plunger tube 24. At the inner end, the plunger tube 24 carries a valved plunger piston 60a.

A press fitted plug 62a of plastic is frictionally fixed in the outer end of the cylinder tube 22. The plug 62a has a threaded hollow interior 64 which receives an air bleed adjustment screw 66 and which is intersected by an outwardly fiaring slot 68. The plug 62a presents a rounded shoulder 79 at the periphery at one end and carries a spring anchor 72 having a hook opening therein adjacent the center of the other end of the plug.

A plunger plug 74 of plastic seals the protruding outer end of the plunger tube 24 and has an aperture pivotally receiving the pivot pin 46. A pair of annular grooves 76 is formed on the outside of a reduced portion of the plug forming one end thereof, and a spring anchor 78 with a hook opening therein is carried centrally at that end of the plug.

The plugs 74 and 62a in the outer ends of the tubes cooperate therewith as cushion forming means closing the opposite ends of an internal air cushion chamber having a first portion 80 in the main cylinder tube 22 between the plug 62a and plunger piston 60a, and having an interconnecting second portion 82 in the interior of the plunger tube 24. A pretensioned coil closing spring 84 is supported under the tension with its opposite ends hooked in the openings of the spring anchors 72 and 78 to bias the device 10a into the foreshortened, door closed position.

By a capping operation performed simultaneously at opposite ends of the cylinder tube 22 to provide rounded ends thereon, the tube metal adjacent plug 62a is radially turned in about the rounded plug shoulder 70, and the tube metal is similarly radially turned in at 86 over the rounded shoulder of a plastic pilot bushing or insert 88 in the inner end of the cylinder tube 22. A helical compression sprng 90 which seats against the bushing 88 is operatively interposed so as to engage the plunger piston 60a during final extensible movement of the device 10a, affording to it the function of a stop-device. The bushing 88 provides a loose pilot bearing for the reciprocating plunger tube 24, and the spring 90 elastically compresses to provide a cushioning action to the shock during final movement of the inner ends of the two tubes as they closely approach.

A conventional apertured keeper 92 loosely receives the plunger tube 24 therein and functions when displaced by hand as a friction ratchet in order to lock the device 10a extended. From the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, the device 10a is longitudinally shifted in the band 28 by releasing and retightening the tension adjusting fastener 32, thereby changing the strength of the device in its function as a closer-device. The spring tension change to increase pretension is made by shifting the device so that the end 86 takes the tighter position, as shown by the broken lines 86 which is in a. direction closer to the band 28, and vice versa in the opposite direction. The resistance to closing of the air cushion chamber is increased by rotating the bleed screw 66 in a direction into a deeper position than shown or vice versa in the opposite direction, thereby affording to the device a greater check rate or a lesser check rate in the function as a check device.

It is not essential that the device be used as an external closer, i.e., be necessarily externally mounted to a door in the indoors side thereof, or that it be fully a closerstop-check device, or that it have the large diameter and length illustrated. The principles of my invention apply equally to an inside mounted device, having about the same long length dimension but a small diameter.

INSIDE MOUNTED DEVICE-FIGS. 4, 5

Illustrative of such a device is the closer-check device 10b as shown mounted inside the upper cross rail section 17b of the slide frame. The slide frame surrounds the screening 16 and slides horizontally in the door frame 13 the same as before and, except for the described modifications immediately following, is the same screen door with the same construction as the screen door 14 previously described.

The modifications are ones in the transverse outer wall portions presented by the frame member sections and are necessitated either directly or indirectly by the presence of the inside closer 10b. A spring arm 94 has a fixed end secured by screws 96 flat against the horizontal outer wall portion of the section 17b. The arm 94 has a free end carrying a hold down roller 98. The arm 94 is movable in a vertical plane through a slot 100 in the outer wall portion to bias the roller 98 against the gutter of the frame 13 so that, in cooperation with other hold down rollers, not shown, in the outer wall portion, the roller pressure prevents the slide frame from jumping the track in the bottom of the door frame 13.

A generally rectangular plastic cup 102 is snapped in a slot 104 of the transverse outer wall portion of one door side rail section 18. The cup 102 in the section 18 permanently receives the inner end of the outer cylinder tube 22 to restrain it, and at times when the door is closed the cup receives a screw hook anchor 106 which protrudes thereinto and is screwed into the adjacent jamb portion of the door frame 13.

A plastic plug 62b in the outer end of the cylinder tube 22 fits in a round opening 108 in the transverse outer wall portion of one side rail section 18 of the slide frame and restrains the outer end of the tube 22. The plug 62b has a lateral attachment flange 110 secured by a screw 112 fiat against the transverse outer wall portion just referred to. The closing spring mechanism and plunger piston 60b are essentially the same as described hereinabove, and details and many of the like reference numerals are therefore omitted.

A first sheet metal corner lock 114 is L-shaped and is connected as an internal reinforcement in the upper section 17b in a first corner of the slide frame. The lock 114 is secured therein by staking or dimpling, not shown, to prevent lengthwise displacement in the respective hollow sections, and has a straight open portion 116 receiving the device 10b. A similar, second corner lock 118 in a second upper corner of the slide frame has a like, straight open portion 120, and the two open portions 116 and 120 are, together with the hollow section 17b, aligned in parallel to the axis of sliding of the slide frame.

The screw hook anchor 106 has a straight upstanding pin portion forming a pin and slot connection in a slot 122 in a plunger plug 74. The slot can adjust up and down on the pin portion and is horizontally elongated in a plane normal to the plane of the anchor 106. Therefore the plug 74 can also adjust in and out of the plane of the paper as viewed in FIG. 4 to provide two way freedom in a plane of accommodation of the connection to slight misalignment between the plunger axis and the anchor 106.

FORESHORTENING-FIG. 6

In a plunger piston construction typical of the foregoing examples of my invention, the piston 60 of the device is made of a long wearing plastic and has a pilot portion 124 for attachment to and fixed on the inner end of the plunger tube 24. A radial flange portion 126 on the free end of the piston 60 is secured to the pilot portion 124 by an integral tubular portion of reduced diameter having radial air ports 128 in the wall thereof adjacent the portion 124. A cup seal 130 of rubber, generally C-shaped in cross section and annular, rides on the reduced diameter portion with a snug, sliding t, and the air ports 128 on the piston are located in the path of sliding movement of the seal 130 to form therewith a one-way piston check valve.

When the piston 60 moves deeper into the main cylinder tube during foreshortening of the device 10, the resisting friction between the seal 130 and the tube 22 internally engaged thereby, such resisting friction being possibly augmented by the force on the seal from air pressure at 80 inside the tube 22, causes a shift in relative position lwith the seal 130 being caused to be seated against the piston pilot portion 124 as shown in solid lines in FIG. 6. With the seal so seated, the piston acts as a valve closing the air path leading from the ports 128 through the space about the portion 124 thence into the annular space 26. The piston check valve design is such that the valve action is in no way interfered with by the moving spring 84 therein, and vice versa; the former is critical to insure that the sole path of escape afforded by the cushion forming means is controlled by the air bleed screw, not shown.

EXTENDlNG-FIG. 7

When the plunger tube 24 is being pulled outwardly in the direction of the arrow, the portion of the cylinder tube being vacated receives a flow of in-going air from the bleed screw and simultaneously a flow of in-going air which is from the annular space 26 and which passes between the tube 22 and the outer lip of seal 130 which radially inwardly collapses. But both flows are inadequate, mainly because the long wearing plastic necessary for an adequate cup seal fairly firmly resists radial collapse.

However, the friction between the seal 130 and the tube 22, coupled with the force of the vacuum formed in the tube 22, causes the ports 128 to be uncovered and the seal 130 to be displaced therefrom to a vacuum breaking position against the flange 126 as shown in solid lines in FIG. 7. Hence in-going air, suicient to keep the required pulling force on the plunger tube at a minimum, flows into the main cylinder tube 22 in a path leading from the annular space 26 through the space about the portion 124, thence through the ports 128 to the main cylinder tube 22. Relative to the cushion forming means, the piston valve allows only in-going air to ow to insure that the vacuum will be broken. The location of the piston valve is critical, because the valve is actually venting compressed air and the compression, in the just referred to annular space 26, would otherwise build up, increasing piston drag and, consequently, the required pulling force on the plunger tube 24.

SUBASSEMBLY-FIG- 8 Making an inner subassembly typical for use in the foregoing examples of my invention requires on the one hand a closing spring 84 and an inner tube plug 74 strung together as a tandem unit whereon a free end hook 131 is provided on the spring 84. On the other hand, a long, straight shanked needle 132 having a hook at the free end is introduced to a position as shown by the broken lines 132a in the piston tipped plunger tube 24, and the end hook 131 is hooked onto the needle hook.

The needle 132 is then withdrawn, pulling the unit with it through the tube 24, and enabling, when the needle is unhooked in the position shown by -broken lines 13211, the cylinder tube plug 62 to be substitutively hooked onto by the end hook 131 of the tandem unit. The relatively larger plug 62 is biased and held by the spring 84 unstably against the piston 60 of the tube 24, and the strung-on relatively smaller plug 74 is held socketed in the other end of the tube 24, in the resulting subassembly now to be linally described.

ASSEMBLY-FIG. 9

The inner subassembly, wherein the spring 84 is supported under pretension holding the plugs 62 and 74 spaced as close together as the intervening plunger tube 24 will allow, is turned in a fixture, not shown, prior to completing the assembly. As the subassembly turns, a narrow metal roller is forced against the tube metal over the two grooves 76, not shown, and the spaced apart wall portions are deflected radially inwardly at 133 to provide a double, air tight seal with the plastic plug 74.

Assembling the tubes is accomplished with a relative axial motion telescoping the inner subassembly in the direction of the arrows into the outer cylinder tube 22, in a manner such that the hookable large plug 62 at the inner end of the plunger tube 24 is press fitted into the corresponding outer end of the cylinder tube and becomes frictionally fixed in a slightly inset position therein. The plastic guide bushing 88 and the optional cushion spring 90, or else the bushing 8S alone, is introduced through the inner end of the cylinder tube 22 with a press lit exerted on the bushing 88 (FIG. 2) to frictionally fix the bushing in a slightly inset position in the cylinder tube inner end.

By employing the capping operation previously described, the metal of the integral end portions of the cylinder tube 22 is turned in at the end 86 and at the opposite end of the tube 22 in order to round olf or streamline the ends. One capping head 134 of the two axially inwardly acting heads necessary is illustrated in FIG. 9. The device is mounted in or on the door and is secured to the frame-connected bracket as indicated.

MINOR PRETENSIONING-FIG. 10

Although minor in effect, some adjustment in pretenslon of the spring 84 can be accomplished externally. The spring at each end and the hooked-on plug at that end in the devices of FIGS. 2 and 4 are nonrotatable, and yet the two plugs 74 and 62 in question relatively rotate when the device 10 is unmounted and the inner and outer tubes are turned relative to one another by hand.

So by the externally done expedient of simply relatively rotating the tubes 22 and 24, the spring 84 can be more tightly or more loosely wound. The individual coils correspondingly have smaller or larger diameters as indicated by the respective small and large circles of broken lines in FIG. 10, and the overall result is slightly less than a 5% change in the axial preload or tension of the spring.

It is not essential that the device be limited necessarily to applications with sliding closures, or that it be restricted to closer-check or closer-stop-check functions speciically, or that the device have the long length dimension and small diameter ascribed to the embodiment as shown in FIG. 4. The principles of my invention apply equally to hinged closure closers, having about the same relatively small diameter referred to but a relatively short length dimension and short stroke.

CLOSER-CHECK-HOLDER-FIG. l1

Illustrative of such a device is a closer-check-holder device 210 for hinged closures, pivotally supported at one end by a fixed bracket 211 and at the other end by a door connected bracket 212.

The bracket 211 is fixed to the underside of a shelf in the frame 213 of a cabinet, such as a kitchen cabinet or medicine cabinet. The bracket 212 swings because it is carried on the inner face of a hinged cabinet door 214, the door being connected to the frame 213 by the plates of a common hinge dening a vertical hinge axis 216.

The door 214 swings open on the axis 216 from an enforced closed position in which it is held by spring action of the device 210, the door closed position being shown by the broken lines 214a and the corresponding closed position of the device being shown by the broken lines 210a. In the approximate 90 open position of the door, the device has a corresponding position at the point shown by the broken lines 2101), and the hinge point or hinge axis 216 falls on the shifting line of centers which, at that point, appears as a reference line 217 connecting the door-connected end point 218 of attachment and the xed end point 220 of attachment of the device to the brackets. The hinge axis 216 relatively crosses past the shifted line of centers, not shown, connecting the closer pivot points 218 and 220 when the door 214, upon opening slightly farther, takes the solid line position exceeding the 90 open position.

The spring closing force provided by the device 210 is reduced by selectively shifting the end attachment point 220 into other anchoring points nearer the hinge axis 216 such as in the anchoring locations 220a or 220C which are aligned in a row in the general direction of the axis 216. The farthest point on the bracket is the point 220 which, when selected, increases the spring closing force to maximum.

Selection of the farthest point 220 from the hinge axis also provides an increase of closing leverage of the device to the maximum, the leverage ratio manifesting itself most when the device approaches or reaches the fully closed broken line position as shown by the broken lines 210:1. Vice versa, the least leverage ratio occurs with selection of the anchoring location 220C because that location is nearest the hinge, causing the least torque arm or lever arm between the hinge axis 216 and the adjacent device as the latter occupies the broken line closed position 210:1.

The outer and inner tubes of the device 210 consist of an unbent cylinder tube 222 and a bent plunger tube 224, one within another and with an annular space 226 between. The device is controlled by a coil compression closing spring 228 and a resisting air cushion 230 inside the cylinder tube 222. The spring 228 located between a pilot bushing and a piston is prestressed thereby shorter than its normal length in all positions, and fits within and is coextensive in length with the annular space 226 between tubes. The spring 228 expands and biases the door 214 toward closed position with changed force, depending upon the anchoring location selected and controlling the strength of the device 210 in a function as a closer-device.

As the door goes open farther in the direction of the arrow in FIG. ll from the solid line position, the spring 228 slightly re-expands because the hinge axis 216 goes overcenter with respect to the line of centers of the closer pivot points 218 and 220. The inner end of the cylinder tube 228 engages and stops at a point against an adjacent rubber bumper or pad 232 fixed on the door 214, and the spring 228 at that point will have expanded to a balanced position therewith affording to the device :the function of a door holder-device.

Door-checking occurs when the door is swung farther closed by hand from the 90 open position, because after the spring has caused the closing door to reach maximum velocity the air cushion 230 builds to maximum pressure, checking the swing and decelerating the door velocity. Air escapes through a restricted passage in an outer end plug 234 in the cylinder tube 222, and the rate of escape is controlled by a bleed screw which is in the restricted passage and which adjusts the restriction.

A valved piston 238 at the inner end of the air cushion 230 is carried by he inner end of a longitudinally extending main portion of the plunger tube. The plunger tube 224 is prolongated at the outer end beyond the cylinder tube, and the plunger tube includes an integral bend 240 on the longitudinally extending main portion, a laterally extending leg portion 242, and a plug receiving, `free outer extremity 244. The device 210 has a resulting L-shape because of the bend 240 in the plunger tube and, in making the transition over the line of centers 218 and 220, the hinge axis 216 crosses to a point within the included angle of the tube bend 240 which is a angle.

ADJUSTABLE ANCHOR STRUCTURE-QFIG. 12

The fixed bracket 211 is spring metal having a general J-shape. The selectible anchoring locations in the structure such as the end attachment point 220 are defined by for-med pockets which are opposed in the long and short legs and which, when the legs are temporarily separated for the purpose as shown in broken lines, receive a trunnion plug 246. The plug 246 is press fitted in the plug receiving, free outer extremity 244 of the bent plunger tube. Two screws 248 aix the bracket 211 to the underside of an upper cabinet shelf 250 which is supported by the cabinet frame, not shown.

FORESHORTENING-FIG. 13

A circular pilot portion of the valved piston 238 fitting loosely in the tube 222 has, at one side, a reduced diameter attachment plug 252 frictionally fixed in the plunger tube 224 to block off the interior of that tube. At the `other side, the pilot portion has a reduced diameter seal carrying portion of the piston provided with a circular end ange 254 and a longitudinally extending shallow slot 256.

The slot 256 extends through the flange 254 and has an air admitting end which is at a point in the seal carrying portion in the path of a translating seal 258 and which is vacated by the seal 258 as the latter shifts into a flow checking position, as shown in solid lines, abutting the pilo-t portion of the valved piston.

The seal 258 is a plastic cup seal of C-shape in cross section. The axial lip thereof at .the inner periphery seals against the reduced diameter portion of the piston, the radial base thereof seals against the pilot portion, and the axial lip thereof at the outer periphery seals against the interior of the cylinder tube 222.

Therefore, when the piston 238 moves deeper into the main cylinder tube 222 during foreshortening of the device 210, the piston compresses the air ahead of it and an air cushion forms because the rate of escape is adjustably restricted by the bleed screw 236. If the seal 258 is initially in a vacuum breaking position, hereinafter described, the force of the compressed air and, more so, the friction between the seal and the interior of the tube 222 forces a shift of the seal 258 into the solid line flow checking position referred to.

EXTENDING-FIG. 1 1

As the plunger tube is pulled outwardly in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 11, the combination of a resultant vacuum and friction force forcibly shifts the seal 258. The shifting seal slides Iacross the air admitting end of the slot 256, along the slot and into a vacuum breaking position, as shown in solid lines, against the piston end flange 254.

The slot and the seal 258 thus form a one-way piston check valve which unchecks to break the vacuum but otherwise checks flow between the slot on the one hand and pilot portion and annular chamber 226 forming the rest of the air passage. The unchecking referred to is an action providing flow from the annular space 226 into the main cylinder tube 222, effectively venting compression from the former and relieving vacuum in the latter. The outward pulling force necessary to extend the device 210 is therefore minimized.

9 sPEomoAnoNs Following is an example of the physical specifications which can be satisfactorily employed.

Main cylinder tube:

Device 10a 1%" OD Al drawn tubing. Device 10b 1/2" OD Al drawn tubing. Device 210 1/2 OD Al drawn tubing. Coil tension springs 84,

"228 Music wire, steel.

Plunger tube, device 10a Plunger tube, devices 10b,

1/2" 0D Al drawn tubing.

Variations within the spirit and scope of the invention described are equally comprehended by the foregoing description.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with closure structure having a frame and a sliding door therein:

spaced apart bracket means comprising frame-connected and door-connected brackets;

an air cushion type closer-stop-check device controlled by a spring and resisting cushioning means therein, the latter formed by a main cylinder and a plunger, said cylinder and plunger presenting their outer ends as the respective opposite ends of the device, the inner ends of the plunger and cylinder arranged one within another and with an annular space between;

cushioning spring means intervening in said annular space and engageable between the inner ends aforesaid to cushion movement of close approach between said ends so as to absorb shock when extending the device;

securing means carried by the frame-connected bracket in cantilever fashion, secured to the outer end of said plunger and providing a swing connection therebetween; and

band means carried by the door-connected :bracket in cantilever fashion, and gripping the cylinder intermediate the ends thereof;

said band means having tension adjustment means carried thereon, and releasable to relatively longitudinally adjust the cylinder of said device with respect to the door into preselected operating positions thereon.

2. Sliding door, panel, or like closure comprising:

a frame fabricated of outer frame member sections, a plurality of which sections are of a generally hollow construction, and one provided with an air cushion type closer positioned therein, and containing a closing spring and resisting, cushion forming means internally of the closer;

spaced apart, generally L-shaped first and second corner locks connected as internal reinforcements to said section in corresponding first and second corners of the respective ends of the closure frame, said corner locks having straight, open portions which, together with said section, are aligned in parallel to the axis of sliding of the closure;

said closer having a position built-in in the hollow interior of said section of the frame and concealed therein at least at the points intermediate said corresponding corners, said closer having a generally tubiform main cylinder disposed with one end of the straight open portion of the first corner lock and the other end in the straight open portion of the second corner lock; and a reciprocal plunger in the closer controlled by the 10 closing spring and air cushion, said plunger at the first corner of the frame projecting at one end beyond both the corresponding one end of the main cylinder and the straight open portion of the first corner lock.

3. The invention of claim 2, the frame characterized by transverse outer wall portions presented by the frame member sections;

means carried by the outer Wall portion adjacent said one end of the main cylinder for restraining that end in the disposition within the irst corner lock; and

means carried by the outer Wall portion adjacent said other end of the main cylinder for restraining that end in the disposition Within the second corner lock.

4. The invention of claim 2, included in combination with closure structure which further includes a fixed frame receiving the sliding closure, a track on the iixed frame between the frame and closure, and jamb portions in the frame to and from -which the closure moves along its axis of sliding on the track; and

anchoring means forming a pin and slot connection lbetween the projecting end of the plunger and the adjacent jamb portion in the iixed frame and providing two-way freedom in a plane of accommodation of the connection to slight misalignment between the plunger axis and the anchoring means.

5. The invention of claim 2, characterized by:

said plunger being likewise tubiform and having an open inne! end carrying a piston thereabout;

said spring being connected at a point at one end to the projecting end of the plunger, and extending from that point through the interior of the plunger, thence out the open inner end thereof to a point of connection of the other spring end to said other end of the tubiform main cylinder of the closer.

l6. The invention of claim 2, the plunger reciprocal in the main cylinder characterized by:

a plunger tube having an inner end and carrying a hollow piston at the inner end, the plunger tube and main cylinder arranged one within the other, vvith an annular space between and with the piston slidably mounted with respect to the main cylinder; and

valve means formed in the piston affording one-way Viiow of air, in the direction of in-going air to the main cylinder from the annular space between the tube and the main cylinder but not in the reverse direction.

7. The invention of claim 6, characterized by:

the piston-carrying inner end of the plunger tube being an open inner end;

said closing spring :being connected at a point at one end to the projecting end of the plunger tube, and extending from that point through the interior of the plunger tube, thence out the open inner end thereof to a point of connection of the other spring end to said other end of' the tubiform main cylinder of the closer.

8. The invention of claim 2, the plunger and main cylinder in the closer characterized by:

telescoping plunger and main cylinder tubes arranged one within another and with an annular space between; and

a piston carried on the inner end of the plunger tube having an annular seal and piston passage means coacting therewith, said seal slidably engaging the main cylinder tube;

said seal capable of limited shifting motion along a seal carrying portion of the piston between respective compression stroke and vacuum breaking positions and establishing, when in the Vacuum breaking position due to shift of the seal attendant with extensible movement of the closer, cooperation with the coacting piston passage means to afford air flow in a path of in-going air to said main cylinder tube from the annular space between the tubes and further establishing, when in the compression position due to shift of the seal attendant with foreshortening movement of the closer, cooperation with the coacting piston passage means to block said path and prevent an out-going ow of air therethrough from said main cylinder tube.

9. The invention of claim 8, said coacting piston passage means characterized by:

a valve passage coacting with the seal to function as the respective fixed and moving parts of a check valve, said valve passage being included in the path of said air flow in a fixed location in said piston portion and intersected by the path of motion of the seal, said air ow path being blocked as the seal checks flow in said compression position thereof but open as the seal unchecks in the vacuum breaking position.

10. The invention of claim 9, the valve passage characterized by:

a side port in the piston portion which intercommunicates said annular space and the main cylinder tube and along which the seal slides as it shifts on the piston portion;

the seal in the compression position slidingly covering the port to check the air flow, the seal uncovering the port and unchecking by sliding into the vacuum breaking position.

11. lAir cushion type closer-check-holder device containing a closing spring and resisting cushion forming means internally of the device, said device comprising:

a generally tubiform main cylinder;

a reciprocal two-ended plunger tube partway therein;

the tube at one end which is inside having a piston fixed thereon controlled by the closing spring and air cushion;

the tube being prolongated at one end -beyond the corresponding end of the main cylinder, said prolongation of the tube having a longitudinally extending portion and a laterally extending portion joined by a bend in the tube, and a free first outer extremity on the laterally extending tube portion; and

plug means embraced one in the cylinder outer extremity of said tubiform main cylinder and one in the free rst outer extremity, said plug means at the free first outer extremity adapted to be connected to a fixed support;

the plug means in said extremities providing two opposite means of end point attachment of the deviceV which, when installed on a hinged closure with the cylinder outer extremity adapted to be connected by said end point attachment means to the closure, is accommodative of the hinge axis at a point within the included angle of the tube bend and between the latter and a line passing between and connecting the respective two opposite end points of attachment of the device.

12. The invention of claim 11, in combination with said closing spring;

the plunger tube and tubiform main cylinder comprising respective bent and unbent tubes one within another and with an annular space between;

the closing spring comprising a coil compression spring prestressed shorter than its normal length and fitting within and coextensive in length with said annular space between the bent and unbent tubes.

13. The invention of claim 11, characterized by:

the plunger tube and tubiform main cylinder comprising tubes one within another and with an annular space between; and

valve means formed in the piston affording one way fiow of air, in the direction of in-going air to the main cylinder tube from the annular space between the plunger tube and the main cylinder tube but not in the reverse direction.

14. The invention of claim 13, the valve means in the piston characterized by:

a seal for the piston and coacting piston passage means;

said seal capable of limited shifting translation along a seal carrying portion of the piston between respective compression stroke and vacuum Ibreaking positions and establishing, when in the vacuum breaking position due to shift of the seal attendant with extensible telescoping of the device, cooperation with the coacting piston passage means to afford air ow in a path of in-going air to said cylinder tube from the annular space between the tubes and further establishing, when in the compression position due to shift of the seal attendant with foreshortening movement of the device, cooperation with the coacting piston passage means to block said path and prevent an out-going ow of air therethrough from said cylinder tube.

15. The invention of claim 14, said coacting piston passage means characterized by:

a valve passage coacting with the lseal to function as the respective fixed and moving parts of a check valve, said valve passage being included in the path of said air flow in a fixed location in said piston portion and intersected by the path of motion of the seal, said air flow path being blocked as the seal checks ow in said compression position thereof but open as the seal unchecks in the vacuum breaking position.

16. The invention 0f claim 15, the valve passage characterized by:

a longitudinally extending slot which is in the fixed location on the outside of the piston portion and along which the seal slides as it translatingly shifts on the piston portion;

the seal taking the compression position relative to one end of the slot by sliding thereacross in a direction vacating the slot as the seal checks air iiow, the seal taking the vacuum breaking position relative to said one end of the slot by sliding thereacross in the opposite direction as the seal unchecks.

17. The invention of claim 11, in combination with:

a fixed support;

a closure thereon having a substantially vertical hinge axis; said closure swinging open on said axis from a closed position;

the hinge axis approaching said line connecting the respective closure-connected and fixed end points of attachment of the device when the closure upon opening approaches a 90 open position, and relatively crossing past. said line when the closure with further opening exceeds the 90 open position.

18. The invention of claim 17, the means of end point attachment provided between the device and fixed support by the plug means in the free first outer extremity characterized by:

leverage ratio adjustment means by which the attachment point is locked in position, affording adjustment of the device which adjustment, as viewed with the closure in the closed position, is in the lateral direction with respect to the hinge axis and hinged closure, whereby the device has preselected locked positions at one end affording different effective moment arm leverage ratios to position and hold the closure in closed position.

19. The invention of claim 17, the means of end point attachment provided between the device and fixed support by the plug means in the free first outer extremity characterized by: v

adjustable anchor structure providing preselected locked anchoring locations all arranged in closely spaced adjacency to, but each at a different spacing from, the hinge axis.

20. The invention of claim 19, a plurality of the anchoring locations being in a row so aligned in the general direction of the hinge axis that adjustment of the anchor structure merely by selection of a location in the row in a direction toward the hinge axis reduces the 13 spring closing force and leverage ratio in the device when the closure is in the respective 90 open and closed positions, and vice versa in the opposite direction.

21. In closer manufacture, the assembling of outer and plunger tubes, with a hookable large plug for the outer tube, and with a tandem unit of a strung together socketable small plug and a coil tension spring, said unit having a free end hook provided on the spring, said assembling characterized by the steps of:

the temporary hooking together of the free end hook of the tension spring of the unit and a draw tool introduced in the plunger tube;

replacement of the tool and substitution therefor of the hookable large plug on said end hook after introduction by the draw tool of said strung together unit with the spring thereof in a stretched condition extending through the plunger tube, resulting in an inner subassembly of parts in which the coils of the spring are closely spaced apart and the spring is supported under pretension holding the hookable large plug unstably against one end of the plunger tube, and the socketable small plug socketed in the opposite end of the plunger tube; and

assembly of the outer tube and the inner subassembly with the subassembly being telescoped thereinto in a manner such that the hookable large plug at said one end of the plunger tube is press iitted into a corresponding one end of the outer tube.

22. The invention of claim 21, wherein the spring at each end and the plug means at that end are nonrotatably secured together and characterized by:

adjustment of the spring preteusion in the closer by relative rotation of the tubes.

23. Telescoping closer controlled by a closing spring and a resisting air cushion, and comprising:

reciprocal plunger and main cylinder tubes arranged one within another and with an annular space between;

said plunger tube at the inner end carrying a piston reciprocating therewith relative to and inside the main cyliu der tube; and a valve mechanism formed in the piston affording one- Way ow of air, in the direction of in-going air to the main cylinder tube from the annular space between the tubes but not in the reverse direction;

said piston and a slidable part of the Valve mechanism having relatively opposite motion to one another upon outset of movement of the piston as its direction reverse's in the -main cylinder tube.

24. The invention of claim 23, in combination with said closing spring;

the piston-carrying inner end of the plunger tube being arranged with an open inner end, whereby the hollow interior of the plunger tube con-tinuously forms a fixed volume portion of the combined volume of the air cushion; said open inner end and the closing spring arranged with the closing spring connected at a point at one end to an outer end of the plunger tube, and extending from that point through the interior of the plunger tube, thence out the open inner end thereof to a point of connection of the other spring end to an outer end of the main cylinder tube of the closer, the arrangement rendering the spring essentially coextensive in length with the combined volume of the air cushion. 25. The invention of claim 23, the valve mechanism for the piston having the slidable valve part characterized by a seal for the piston and including coacting piston passage means therefor;

the piston-carrying end of the plunger tube characterized by being an open inner end, whereby the hollow interior of the plunger tube continuously forms a iixed volume portion of the combined volume of the air cushion;

said seal capable of limited shifting translation along a seal carrying portion of the piston between respective compression stroke and vacuum breaking positions and establishing, when in the Vacuum breaking position due to shift of the seal attendant with extensible telescoping of the closer, cooperation with the coacting piston passage means to afford air ow in a pa-th of in-going air to said cylinder tube from the annular space between the tubes and further establishing, when in the compression position due to shift of the seal attendant with foreshortening movement of the closer, cooperation with the coacting piston passage means to block said path and prevent an out-going ow of air therethrough from said cylinder tube.

26. The invention of claim 25, said coacting piston passage means characterized by:

a valve passage coacting with the seal to function as the respective fixed and moving parts of a check valve, said valve passage being included in the path of said air flow in a fixed location in said piston portion and intersected by the path of motion of the seal, said air flow path being blocked as the seal checks ow in said compression position thereof but open as the seal unchecks in the vacuum breaking position.

27. The invention of claim 26, the valve passage characterized by:

a side port in the piston portion which intercommunicates said annular space and the main cylinder tube and along which the seal slides at it translatingly shifts on the piston portion;

the seal taking the compression position by slidingly covering the port to check air flow, the seal uncovering the port to uncheck by sliding into the vacuum breaking position.

28. The invention of claim 26, the valve passage characterized by:

a longitudinally extending slot which is in the xed location on the outside of the piston portion and along which the seal slides as it translatingly shifts on the piston por-tion;

the seal taking the compression position relative to one end of the slot by sliding thereacross in a direction vacating the slot as the seal checks air flow, the seal taking the vacuum breaking position relative to said one end of the slot by sliding thereacross in the opposite direction as the seal unchecks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,062,575 5/1913 Gibbs 16-66 1,131,264 3/1915 Pearson 16-66 2,808,625 10/1957 Wilkinson 16-66X 2,940,111 6/ 1960 Patriqun 16-66 3,131,420 5/1964 Quinn 16-66 3,278,979 10/ 1966 Clement 16-66 3,032,806 5/ 1962 Mallory 16-49HOUX DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner 

